Pivoted vertical gate



lime 15, 1965 c7; m LowRFixf:J 331883759?" PIVOTED; VERTIGM.IJ GATE Filed Deo. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eli L C D Lowrey INVENTOR.

Jme? 135.5! 1519655 Dif LQWREY PIVOT-EDy VERTICAL GATE 2 lSheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

CD Lawrey INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,188,759 PIVGTED VER'HCAL GATE C D Lowrey, Quitman, La., .assigner to C. l). Lowrey & Company, Inc. Filed Dee. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 242,716 6 Claims. (Cl. 39-82) This invention relates to a novel and useful pivoted gate and more specifically to a gate primarily designed for use as a swingable closure for the rear end of truck bodies.

When loading and unloading stock the driver of a mobile stock pen usually backs up to a stock delivery chute. yIf the mobile stock pen is provided with a conventional type of gate which is swingable about an ups'tanding axis', the driver must stop short'of the discharge end of the deliveryrchute, dismount and open the gate, and then remount the mobile stock pen and back up the remaining distance to the discharge end of the delivery chutes `By providing a gate which is pivoted for movement about an axis extending transversely of the medial plane'of the gate, the mobile stock pen may be backed up to a point' immediately adjacent the discharge end of a stock delivery chute. Then, the driver has only to pivot the gate about its horizontally disposed axis in order to allowstockto travel from the vdischarge chute into the mobile stock pen.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a new and useful gate which may be utilized as the closure member for the rear end of mobile stock pensand which is mountedfor swinging movement about a horizontally disposed axis extending substantially normalto the 'medial plane ofthe gate.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide coacting guide means carried by the -swingable gate member and the upstanding gate post to which it is pivotally mounted for guiding ythe free swinging portion of the gate member against movement laterally of its medial plane during its swinging movement between the' upper open position and the lower closed position.y

Stilly another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a swingable gate which is also mounted for swinging movement relative to the atom-mentioned' gatey post about an upstanding axis in a conventional manner in order that the gate may also be used as a conventional gate.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pivoted gate member in accordance with the preceding objects Which will also be readily adaptable for use in environmentsother than as a swingable closure for the rear end of a mobile stock pen.

. A nal object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a pivoted vertical gate in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform-to conventional forms of manufacture,be of simple construction and easy to handle so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. j

I hese together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operationas more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: y FIGUREy l Yis a fragmentary top planl view of the rear end of a mobile stock pen shown with the pivoted vertical gate of the instant invention being utilized as a closure for the rear end of the stock pen;

FI URE 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

ICC

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 as seen from the left side of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken `substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but on somewhat of a reduced scale and showing the gate member in a raised open position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary lside elevational view of a modified form of gate showing the manner in which it is also pivotally secured to the corresponding gate post for movement about an upstanding axis in order that the gate may also be utilized as a conventional gate;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the of FIGURE 7 and with an open position of the gate member being shown in phantom lines; l

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a further modified form of gate member which is similar to that illustrated in FIGURES l through 5 but which utilizes additional guide means for guiding the free swinging portion of the gate member against lateralA movement;

FIGURE ll is an enlarged fragmentary vertical seetional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated' by the section line 11-11 of FIGURE l0; and

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary side elevational View illustrating a modified form of latch for the gate. Y

Referring now more :specifically to the drawings, the` numeral 10 generally designates the flooring of a mobile stock pen which is provided with a pair of upstanding' sides 12 and 14 including gate posts 16 and 13 respectively at corresponding ends of the s-ides 12 and 14.

rEhe pivoted vertical gate assembly of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral' and includes a generally rectangular gate member 22; The gate member 22 includes a pair of upstandingside members 24 and 26 which are interconnected by means of a plurality of generally parallel horizontal members 28. In addition, the horizontal members Z8 are interfl connected by means of an additional pair of vertical brace members which are spaced inwardly from the upstanding side' members 24 and 26.

The lower end portion of the gate post 16 has a journal block 32 mounted thereon in any convenient manner such as by welding 34 and a pivot pin 36 projects from the inside face of the gate member 22 and is rotatablyl received in the journal block 32. gate member 22 is mounted for swinging movement about a generally horizontally disposed axis extending ttansversely of the medial plane of the gate member `22 de'- iined by the pivot pin 36:

An arcuate guide member 40 is securedin spaced relation to the inside face of the gate member 22 by means of mounting studs 41 secured Ibetween the gate member' ZZ"- and the arcuate guide member 49. A grooved guide WheelY or follower 42 is rotatably journaled from the'upper end of the gate post 16 by means of a pivot pin 44 and it will be noted from FIGURE 4 of the drawings that the grooved guide wheel or roller 42 is disposed in rolling contacting relation with the outer peripheral surface 46' of the arcuate guide member 40 and that the anges 4S and 50 defined by the groove 52 formed in the wheel 42 are disposedV on opposite sides of the arcuate guide member 40. It will be noted that the axis of rotation of the gate memplane indicated by the section line 8 8" In this manner, tlie' t Y i alaaf/se Y ber 22 defined bythe pivot pin 36 defines the center of curvature of the arcuate guide member 40. Additionally, v.

the opposite ends of the arcuate guide memberY 46 yeach have a radially outwardly. projecting abutment d secured thereto for engagement by the wheel orroller 42 yin order to limit swinging movement of thegate member .about the l-ongitudinal axis of the pivot pin 36 in Vbothdrrections.

f 'From yFIGURESIJ 3, and 6 of Vthedrawings, it may be" seen that an upstanding guide bracket 58 is secured tothe gate post18-and defines, together with the latter, an upwardly opening channel in which the lowerV redge of the gate member 22 is receivable ywhen the gate member 22k .Y Xlyr U-shaped members 112 kandV 1:14 secured to the gate post16 and the side member 2,4. The members 112 and V114y include pairs of apertured legs 1.16 and 11S respectively and the legs 116 and 118 include registrable Vlbores 120 and 122 respectively through which a locking pin 1.24 may be passed.

VThe upper portions of the rear ends of the sides 14 and 16 are interconnected by means of an inverted U- shaped brace assembly generally referred to by the reference' numeral 126 including a pair of depending legs 128 and 13 interconnected at their Vupper ends by means of f a bight portion 132.. The legs 128 and 130 each include isV moved toward its lowered and closed position illus-V ,A

trated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the dra-wings. The bracket 58 includesl an L-shaped member 59 including horizontal and vertical legs 6i) and 61, the free end of the horizontal leg 6i) is secured to the gate post 1S anda pair of-brace members 62 are secured between the gate postl andV the vetrical leg 611 at points spaced longitudinally thereal-ong. The upper edge of the uppermost brace member t 62 has an upwardly opening notch 63 formed therein in'- whicha generally horizontal hooked.y abutment memberV 64 is -seatingly,engageableffor ldening the closed position of the pivoted gate member 20. In addition,V a camk strapy `65 is providedv and extends between'rportions ofthe gate post 18 and the leg 61 for camming the free edge of the gate member 22 into engagement with the vertical leg 61 as the gate member 22 is pivoted to the closed position. With attention now ,directed tol FIGURES y7 through 9 of the drawings, there will be scenaV modified form of mobile pen generally referred to by the reference numeral- 66 which lincludes a gate post 68 corresponding to the gate post 16. However, the journal block '7d ofthe stock i' pen 66 is fixed to a sleeve 7-2 beingl rotatably supported from the gate post 68. The journal .block 70 corresponds a large diameter tubularl lower leg section 13,4 and an `upper smalldiameterfleg section 136 telescopingly within the upper end ofthe corresponding lower section 134 and removably secured in adjustedpositions by means of a set screw 138 carried by the corresponding lower section 134. t The bight portion 132 ,rigid-ly interconnects the' upper ends of the upper sections 136. y

In operatiomeach of the gate members 22tand 98 may Ybeswun'g .to the open positions from the closed'positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and l10 ofthe drawings merely by swinging the gate members 22 and :98 about ytheir re-v spective axesj'of rotation. In laddition vto being ableV to be swung to the open position in the same manner as the gate members 22 and 98,'the gate member 76 may also be swung'to an'open position in `the conventional manner about an vupstanding axis denedby the. gate post 68..

Inasmuch as the guide or follower wheel is also swingably supported from the'gate post 68, the coacting guide 'meansl defined lby the guideV follower wheel 80 and the to the journal block 32 and thepivot pin 74 of-a gate memf ber76 which is identical to the gate member 22 is rotatably received in the journal block 70. In addition, the' pivot pin 78l by which the grooved Wheel 8f) correspondsecured inthe lowered vpositions illustrated in VFIGURES ofthe gatev 'to ing tothe grooved Wheel 42 is rotatably supported from Accordingly, f

, of theinvention'as. claimed.

corresponding arcuate guide member 81 may be maintained in constant'guiding engagement with each other.

The foregoingY is consideredras `illustrative 'only of the principles yof the invention.. Further, since numerous Lmodifications andV changeswillxreadily occur to those skilled in the'art,` it isnot desired to Vlimit the invention to the exact construction andloperation shown and described, and accordingly allV suitablemodiications and equivalents may-be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope What is claimedas new is' as'follows: v f

1Q In combination with first and second upstanding sidesdisposed alongside each other and terminating at corresponding rear ends in first and second posts, respectively,

gate member including a pair of normally upstanding 7 and 3- of the drawings by means yof locking pins 84 and 86 passed through pairs of aligned bores S8 and 90 formed` .and 94 formed in the gate member 22 and the gate post 16.

With attention now directed to FIGURES l0 andV 1l of the drawings, there will bejseena further modified form of mobile pen lmeral 96 which includes a gate member generally referredv to by the Vreference numeral 98 that is substantially identical to the gate member 22 with the exception being that the arcuate guide member 100 thereof is also provided with a longitudinallyextending'slot 102.1` In 'addition to. the guide follower or v grooved wheel 104 4'which corresponds to the cludes aV guide shank 106 gate post 108 corresponding tothe gate post 16 and it may be seen that the guide shank 106 extends through and is sl-idably received inthe slot 192.

As the mobile pen 96 isrotherwise substantially identical to the mobile pen lffurther explanation of the scc- V ond modification is deemed to beunnecessary; l

InFIGURE 12 there m-ay be seena modified/form of locking means which` may bevused inrlien of the locking pins 84 and 86 and is designated by the reference numeral 110.-` The locking means 110 includes a pair'of-generalgrooved wheel 52, the mobile pen 96 in-l -which is fixedly secured to thek Y Y opposite edgefportion's, means pivotally securing said gate member, at a lowerportion-of one of p said upstanding edge portions, to said first post for swinging movement Vof the otherupstanding edge portion of said gate member about a generally'horizontally disposed-axis'disposed 1n the gate member 76 and the gate post 68 and bores 92` transversely of said `gate'mernltu'er between a lower closed position Vand an upper vopen position, said means :being pivotally supported from said first post for rotation about an upstanding axis spaced yforwardly of the vertical plane generally yreferred .to bythe referenceV nuf l in which said gatemember is swingable about .said horizontal axis when said' gate member is in said closed position.

sol

2.' The combination of claim .1, said second gate post inv cludes an upstanding guide bracketl adjacent its lower end generally parallelling said secondgate post and defining,

with the latter, an upwardly ,opening channel in which thev lower edge of saidV gatemember is receivable when said gate memberis moved toward its lowered closed position. j 1

3,'kThe combination ofclaim 1 includingcoacting guide means supported from; said gatermemberv and a portion ofsaid rst post disposed above said axis,I engaged with eachother and guiding the free swinging portionr of said Vgate member against lateralv movement, saidguide means supported from said first post alsobeing mounted' on said first post for rotation aboutan upstanding axis gen erally coinciding w ith the upstanding axis'of rotationr of including confronting inner sides, an upstanding 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said coacting guide means includes a arcuate guide member secured to said gate in a position having said horizontal axis as its center of curvature and a guide follower supported from said post and guidingly engaged with said guide member.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said guide follower comprises a grooved wheel journalled for rotation from said irst post and disposed in rolling contacting engagement with said arcuate guide member.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said grooved wheel is disposed in rolling contacting engagement with the outer periphery of said arcuate guide member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,288 3/ 67 Neal 39-91 585,79() 7/97 Royer 39--61 612,514 10/98 Bruner 39-91 894,319 7/08 Fasold 39--82 1,374,785 4/21 Trueman 39-45 2,374,697 5/ 45 Palisano et al 39--82 l0 HARRTSON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH FIRST AND SECOND UPSTANDING SIDES DISPOSED ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER AND TERMINATING AT CORRESPONDING REAR ENDS IN FIRST ANS SECOND POSTS, RESPECTIVELY, INCLUDING CONFRONTING INNER SIDES, AN UPSTANDING GATE MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF NORMALLY UPSTANDING OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID GATE MEMBER, AT A LOWER PORTION OF ONE OF SAID UPSTANTING EDGE PORTIONS TO SAID FIRST POST FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER UPSTANDING EDGE PORTION OF SAID GATE MEMBER ABOUT A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AXIS DISPOSED TRANSSVERSELY OF SAID GATE MEMBER BETWEEN A LOWER CLOSED POSITION AND AN UPPER OPEN POSITION, SAID MEANS BEING PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID FIRST POST FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPSTANDING AXIS SPACED FORWARDLY OF THE VERTICAL PLANE IN WHICH SAID GATE MEMBER IS SWINGABLE ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS WHEN SAID GATE MEMBER IS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION. 